“Now we have Republicans hand in hand with Democrats offering us trillion-dollar deficits,” he said. “I can’t … in good faith, just look the other way because my party is now complicit in the deficits. Really who is to blame? Both parties.”

The Office of Research and Engagement’s third annual Research Integrity and Compliance Awards were held at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy Tuesday, February 6. Chancellor Beverly Davenport and Robert Nobles, interim vice chancellor for research and engagement, celebrated faculty, staff, and students who practice excellence in safety and compliance areas every day.

“These awards were created to highlight the value and importance of shared governance, which lays the foundation for UT’s continued success,” said Nobles. “I am indebted to those who contribute to our research integrity, safety, and compliance infrastructure, and appreciate their dedication.”

Eighteen individuals were recognized by their peers for consistently going above and beyond in their field, showcasing their dedication to research integrity, radiation and laboratory safety, and issues of compliance.

“The recipients of these awards are a dedicated and compassionate group of people who serve as role models of the Volunteer spirit and go the extra mile in giving their all for the university in such a selfless manner,” said Nobles.

Coble Named Southern Company Faculty Fellow

“I’m honored and grateful to have been selected for this recognition and to be associated with Southern Company, given it operates and is expanding its nuclear power operations,” Coble said. “This will enable me to focus even more on the issues surrounding the safety, sustainability, and economic competitiveness of nuclear power as a key carbon-free energy source.”

Applicants should download and the full proposal guidelines and review previously funded projects before applying. Proposals must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 2, 2018. Late proposals will not be accepted. Funding will be available during the 2019 fiscal year only, and must be fully spent by June 30, 2019.

A drug used to treat opioid addiction could cause breathing problems in some obese patients, according to a new study from UT scientists.

Buprenorphine is a Schedule III drug with a lower abuse potential than methadone. It is one of three drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to help patients undergoing treatment for opioid abuse. The UT study found that the drug impairs the ability of obese mice to vary their breathing. These findings in mice may encourage similar studies in humans, since the ability to vary breathing helps us achieve tasks such as climbing stairs and respond to challenges such as disease and surgical stress.

The discovery of the drug’s previously unknown side effect could help clinicians improve patient care, said the study’s lead author, Ralph Lydic, Robert H. Cole Endowed Professor of Neuroscience in the UT Department of Psychology and the Department of Anesthesiology at UT Medical Center.